Hospice needs help for profitable 2022

Hospice East Rand (HER) held its AGM recently and it was noted that due to the effects of Covid-19, the organisation moved from a steady profit in 2019/2020 to a loss in 2020/2021.

The financial year under review was April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021.

Chairperson Con Roux said the loss is not sustainable in the long term and the particular concern of the executive is ever-increasing competition in the space of charity shops. The charity shops are the backbone of the Hospice’s sustainability.

Roux emphasised that the core of HER is offered through the care-at-home programme.
“From all of us in the executive, thank you to all the staff and volunteers for your dedication and for enabling the organisation throughout this exceptionally challenging year,” he added.

Some of the medical report points by Dr Vineshree Moodley
“The medical staff continues to see our patients experience escalating levels of poverty, suffering and hardship due to the pandemic,” she explained.
“With our limited resources and donations, we try to assist where we can.
“May the rest of the year be a productive, abundant one for us all.”

Some of the patient care report points by manager Sr Sindisiwe Mdlalose
• The organisation ensured that patients were uplifted through telephone calls during quarantine
• Patient care at home continued with doctor supervision
• When there was a need, patients were visited
• A few personnel tested positive but recovered
• Provision of full PPE was the priority
• Day-care programmes remained closed. Patients in Benoni/ Vosloorus continued to receive home visits
• HER has been moved from five-star to four-star accreditation with HPCA, the self-assessment tool still needs to be completed.
“We were infected and affected but no lives were lost within the organisation,” Mdlalose said.

Psychosocial report by social worker Busisiwe Ntondini
“Assessments are done by the psychosocial department staff using a holistic approach, which entails the emotional, spiritual, social, financial and psychological aspect of patients’ lives,” Ntondini said.
“Psychosocial staff support and walk with the patient and their family throughout their journey until the end of life.”
• Number of assessments: 607 (April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021)
• Number of bereavement calls: 200 (April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021)

Some administration report points by manager Brenda Bisschoff
• The expenditure was kept to a minimum by staff in 2020
• Monetary reserves were used
• Federal Employers Mutual donated R400 000 towards the training programme
• The Shuffling Walking Team donated R30 000
• Annual Bring-A-Thing donations from St Dunstan’s, St Benedicts and Curro schools

Charity shops
HER has 10 charity shops and one bookshop, the contributions to these shops, whether it is buying from it, or donating to it is crucial in the sustainability of HER’s income.
The public is encouraged to support these shops so HER can better assist the community.
The charity shops are located in Rynfield, Victoria Avenue (Benoni), Van Dyk Park (Boksburg), Freeway Park (Boksburg), Aston Manor (Kempton Park), Harmelia (Edenvale), Eastleigh (Edenvale), Lambton (Germiston), Springs and Brakpan.
The bookshop is also based in Benoni.

This financial year, HER also bid farewell to volunteer Joan Bolton who retired after 26 years of service to the organisation.

At present, the organisation has 40 volunteers in the charity shops waiting to assist the public.

To help the Hospice, call 011 422 1531 or support its upcoming toy fair and back-buddy campaign.

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